Maui firefighters rescue 2 tourists in separate hiking incidents

Search and rescue crews responded to Iao Valley State Park at about 7 p.m. after a 26-year-old woman from New York got lost and couldn't make it out when darkness fell.

Firefighters hiked in and found her about a half-mile above the end of the marked trail after searching for about 45 minutes, and walked her out safely.

The woman had gotten disoriented and mistakenly hiked deeper into the valley when she thought she was walking out, a Fire Department spokesman said. She stayed put after calling 911 for help, firefighters said.

Earlier in the day, firefighters rescued a 65-year-old man from Missouri who injured his knee after slipping on a muddy Waihee Ridge trail.

The Fire Department helicopter responded and located the man about 2:20 p.m. about 1.5 miles above the trail head.

The helicopter airlifted him to a landing zone near Camp Maluhia. He refused medical treatment and said his friends would take him to the hospital once they returned to their car.

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alliewrote:

charge 'em for rescue

on February 21,2013 | 06:42AM

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kpalauwrote:

These idiots think they know everything about hiking, then use our resources to get them out of trouble. When they go in with their cell phones they don't think about consequences, just that all they have to do is call!!

on February 21,2013 | 06:49AM

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Sunnywrote:

We want to provide a safe environment for our tourists and warn them of the dangers when the surf is rough and hiking trails too dangerous (ex: Stairway to Heaven), but too many are not using their common sense and risking their safety as well as the rescuers.